I enjoyed the Miller's Tale, and in light of the sexual themes we uncovered in class, the story seemed incredibly graphic. I think the bawdiness of the tale highlights the Miller's lower station (especially in comparison with the Knight, who gets to speak first, and the Monk, who was supposed to speak second.) When the miller insists upon speaking before the Monk, the host is quick to point out that the Monk is a better man - thought this could be a comment on the Miller's inebriation, it also seems likely to reflect the Miller's station in life.
The Miller's tale is hilarious, and though I may be digging too deep, I saw some Christian parallels in the story. Like the prologue, where Chaucer intermingles talk of love and sex with holiness, the Miller's tale has a graphic love story (where Nicholas grabs Alison, thereby seducing her, and they have sex in her husband's bed) and also a Bible parallel (where Nicholas acts as God, commanding John to prepare for the flood, and Absalom acts as Satan, with a fiery brand).
I also thought it was interesting that Absalom - the courteous suitor, who courts properly - is rudely rejected, while Nicholas, the skeevy guy who puts his hands on Alison until she threatens to scream for help, manages to get the girl. What is Chaucer trying to say about love, and about sexuality? Chaucer does not condemn Alison's adultery - and in fact, the story ends with Alison and Nicholas together and John, suffering and ridiculed. Is it because Chaucer is trying to be super radical and challenge the Christian idea that sex should only happen within the bonds of marriage? Or is it because the Miller is narrating and his low-class ideals are shining through his tale? It's pretty clear that the Miller thinks John was stupid for marrying a girl so much younger and prettier, but does that make it okay for Alison to cheat?
Even without looking into the details of the story, the tale seems somewhat Biblical. The story is about a carpenter and his wife...possibly a parallel to Joseph and Mary, since Joseph was also a carpenter. That seems weird to me (and obviously heretical) because if Mary is supposed to parallel Alison then it seems like Chaucer is implying that Mary's "conception" was not immaculate, and actually came from an adulterous relationship. That would make Jesus a bastard and not the son of God, which seems completely inappropriate for Chaucer to have written in his time. How on earth did he get away with writing the Canterbury Tales?!
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Im not quite sure what Chaucer was trying to address in this story because aside from a "coltered" bum, Nicholas got away with seducing Alison while the poor husband is cluelessly left in the dark (but he was also quite a fool). I, too, see the many Christian analogies, but as I am not Christian, I cannot delve too much into it before I start to sound like I have no idea what I'm talking about.
I also enjoyed the Miller's tale and the graphic and much more explicitly obvious tale was a reflection of the Miller's station and sobriety (or shall I say lack thereof).
And perhaps Chaucer was trying to say with Absalom that just because he is courting Alison properly (but how properly? he KNOWS she is married, doesnt he?) that it doesnt mean that he truly loves her. He got over it quickly when he was fooled by her.
Maybe Chaucer was trying to send a message to young ladies that they must look behind the "courting tricks" men use on them. Just a thought.
Well again, keep in mind that Chaucer is, in many different ways, trying to challenge the Catholic church of the time in the different values and morals it transmits to society. I think Chaucer does a really good job in showing different social events of everyday life 'back in the day' in a humoristic yet critical way.
i agree with your comment, how did he get away with writing the canterbury tales? in those times even more!? people were supposedly more dignified and not as open as they are now, especially in the sexual manner he describes!
I agree with Margo. It's amazing how sexually graphic some of The Canterbury Tales is, considering the time period. I always thought that during this time people were quiet about sex, and here I'm faced with scenes worse than a Nora Roberts novel!
I also agree with Margo that it is amazing how Chaucer got away with his Canterbury Tales in those times. Aside from them being quite comical and with quite a few vulgar scenes, it pretty much reflects many of our society today..but the fact that it was written at a time when everyone was more conservative and following the church was a way of life, it just makes his tales much more intriguing today.
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